Improvement in baby jumpers and walkers



L. 0. COLVIN Improvement in Baby-Jumpers and Walkers.

N0. 131,083. Patented Sep. 3 18 72.

n1. mam-umacur/r/cmmx/osaanwzimoans) V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEIGHTON 0. (JOLVIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JEEsEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BABY JUMPERS AND WALKERS.

- Specification describing an Improvement in Combined Baby J umper,Walker, Chair and Swing, invented by LEIGHTON 0. 00mm, of Newark, in thecounty of Essex and State of New Jersey.

This invention is designed to furnish an apparatus for nursery use,which may be made to perform the functions or occasion of a baby jumper,walker, chair, or swing.

It consists in certain novel means whereby the swing is caused to beautomatically or gradually checked at the end of each vibration, so asto prevent any jar or concussion to the infant occupying the chairforming a portion of the apparatus, and also to prevent the swingingmovement from being carried further than may be desirable whereby theheight of the aforesaid chair may be adjusted to any requisite heightfrom the floor, so that all liability of injury to the infant fromviolent contact with the forward part of the chair is avoided, and thelength of the elastic portion of the devices employed for suspending thechair may be readily adjusted to suit the desired vertical movement ofthe chair when in use as a jumper.

Figure l is a side view of the apparatus constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of one portion of thesame. Fig; 3 is a plan view of the part shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of another portion of the apparatus.

The chair A is attached by cords a to the elastic device B, which isformed with a ring,

, a, at either end, one for the attachmentof the cords a, as shown inFig. 1, the other for attachment to the outer end of the suspension bar0 by means of a hook, I), or other suitable device. The inner end of thebar 0 is provided with a hook, b, for hooking into a staple orring-bolt, 0, provided in the wall of the room where the apparatus is tobe used. Above the staple c is a bolt, d, extending outward some littledistance beyond the staple, as represented in Fig. 1.- From the ring orouter end of this bolt d the part on of the brace D extends to andconnects with a point more or less approaching the centre of the bar 0,the tension ofwhich brace resists the downward pressure exerted upon thebar by weight of the chair A and its occupant. It will be Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 131,083, dated September 3, 1872.

seen that a line drawn from the outer end of the bolt 61 to that of thestaple 0 indicates the axis about or upon which the bar 0 swings when alateral movement is given to the chair by the occupant thereof. From theinclined position of this axial line it follows that the bar 0 will findits lowest position or place of rest when at right angles to the wallfrom which it is suspended, and that when moved laterally it will risein proportion to the extent of such lateral movement, producing ineffect a limited swinging motion in which the infant is kept from anyjar or concussion which might otherwise injuriously affect it, and isalso prevented from coming in contact with the wall to which theapparatus is applied, as previously herein set forth. The brace D may beformed of a short cord or any suitable flexible material, and is passedthrough ahole formed in the bar 0, as indicated in dotted outline at fin Fig. 1, and has upon its lower extremity a pin, g. The lowermostportion of the brace is extended along the under side of the bar 0, withits pin 9 thrust into one or another of holes shown in dotted outline atr in Fig. 1, as formed in line in such under side of the bar. By placingthe pin 9 in one of the holes 0 more or less remote from the lower endof the bar 0, the upper or suspending portion m of the brace may belengthened or shortened to bring the chair A to any preferred distancefrom the floor. The chair A is formed of the bottom m and annular top a,connected by the inclined rounds s, the bottom being of much lessdiameter than the top, which not only subserves the special purposeherein presently set forth, but also insures economy of material inmanufacture, as the bottom may be made of the piece removed from thecenter of the top in bringing the same to its annular form, The size ofthe bottom of .circular form is such as to comfortably support theoccupant of the chair with more or less lateral support from theinclined rounds 3. One of these roundsthat immediately in front-is bentoutward or bowed, as shown at r, in such manner that when the occupantof the chair is thrown forward as in the attempt to walk, indicated inFig. 2, the chest and upper portions of the stomach may rest upon theadjacent portion of the top and upon the upper portion of the frontround. It will be seen that the space afforded by the bowed form of thesaid round at r affords ample room for the pelvis and, the circularchair-bottom being in contact at its front with the thighs, while thebody is sustained, as described, by the top and the upper part of thefront round, any injury to the genitals, (should the occupant of thechair be a male infant,) liable to occur by contact with hard material,as the use of a chair formed with a straddle-bar, is effectuallyprovided against. The elastic device B is composed of a wirecoiledspring, G, axially through which is passed a cord, I, of such material,size, and make that its length may be readily diminished by twisting itupon its central, or axial line, each end of this cord being passedaround and firmly attached to one of the rings a, these latter restingin contact with the diminished ends of the coil or spring. It will beseen that by twisting the string to diminish its length, the length towhich the spring can be extended will be reduced in like proportion, andvice versa. By this means, therefore, the

tension of the spring can be adjusted and the extent of the verticalmovement of the chair, when used as a jumper, may be also adjusted. Bymy mode of suspending the chair a child is enabled to swing, walk, run,or jump at a much earlier age than he could do so naturally, and thiswithout any liability to injury. What I claim as my invention is+ 1. Thesuspension bar 0, furnished with the v specified.

L. O. GOLVIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, FRED. HAYNES.

